With Me in Seattle Bundle One (28 page)

This isn’t about restraining me, or playing with me.  This is about him showing me how much he loves me, and it fills me with so much strength and reassurance and tenderness.

He runs the fingers of his left hand through the hair by my face as he continues to kiss me, softly, gently, patiently.  I rest the bottoms of my feet on his calves, rubbing up and down, caressing him, as I thrum the fingertips of my free hand up and down his strong back.

I can feel his hardness against me, but he makes no move to sink inside me.  Not yet.

“You are so beautiful,” he murmurs against my lips.

“You make me feel beautiful,” I whisper to him, and he groans. 

He plants tiny kisses at the side of my mouth.  I weave my fingers into his hair and gently caress him.

“I love your hair.  It feels so good in my fingers.”

“I figured that,” he whispers, and I feel him smile against my neck.  “You always have your hands in it.”

“Don’t ever cut it short, please.”  I love hearing his whispery voice.

“Okay.”  He kisses my earlobe and tickles it with his teeth.  “You have amazing skin, so smooth and soft.  And you always smell so good.”

His words are seductive. His hand is still moving in my hair, and my body is humming.

My hips start to move beneath him, and I feel his grin at my throat.  “You know what you do to me.”

“You do the same to me, baby.”  He flexes his hips, pushing his cock against my wet center.  The tip slides against my clitoris, and I gasp.

“I want you.” 

“I know.  I want you, too.” 

I love the whispers, the soft sighs and gasps.  This is the quietest our lovemaking has ever been, and it’s no less intoxicating.

Oh so slowly he begins to fill me, one delightful inch at a time, until he’s buried as far as he can go.  He fills me up, physically, emotionally, and I feel tears roll from the sides of my eyes.

This sweet, protective, kind, sexy man loves me.  And I love him, oh so much.

“Don’t cry, baby.”  His whispered voice is rough with emotion, and he starts to slowly move, in and out of me.  My legs hitch up higher around his hips, taking him in even deeper, and as he hits that most sensitive spot, I feel sparks begin to fly through me.

“Oh, I’m gonna come, my love.” 

“Yes,” he whispers in my ear, and I am lost, my orgasm consuming me, but I barely make a sound, caught up in our quiet lovemaking.

Luke stills, pushes into me one last time and empties himself into me, whispering my name.

Chapter Twenty-Five

I’ve decided that being back in the real world does not suck.

We’ve been home from our romantic Tahitian getaway for a week, and we have fallen into a comfortable routine of work, flirty texts throughout the workday, hitting the gym or yoga together and alternating between his place and mine at night.

Tonight, we’re staying at my place, and we’re having dinner with Jules.

“That is not how you cook pasta!”  Jules looks beautiful, as usual, as she glares at my boyfriend, and I smirk.

“How the hell do you do it?”  Luke is thoroughly frustrated with her, and I’m sitting back with a glass of wine, enjoying the show.

“You have to put the salt in the water before it comes to a boil.  Everyone knows that.”

“You know what, you do it.  I’m going to make out with my girlfriend.”  He leaves Jules to finish dinner and comes around the breakfast bar to kiss me.

“Is she being mean to you?” I ask and caress his face.

“No, she just doesn’t know how to cook and won’t listen.”

“I can hear, you know.”  Jules glares at us, and we laugh.

I love spending evenings with these two.  They both mean the world to me, and I love it that they get along so well.

“So, Luke, when does your new movie come out?” Jules is stirring the pasta.

“This Friday,” he responds and takes a sip of wine.

“What?” I exclaim.  I had no idea!  Why doesn’t he tell me these things?

“Um, I have a movie coming out on Friday.”

I stare at him, dumbfounded. 

Jules looks back and forth between us and then mutters, “Oops.”

“Why didn’t you say something?”  My feelings are so hurt.

“It didn’t occur to me.”  He frowns and shrugs.

“You have a major motion picture about to be released for millions of people to see, and it didn’t occur to you to mention it to your girlfriend?”  I turn and face him on my stool. 

What the hell?

“I just did some of the production. I’m not starring in it or anything.”

“I don’t care, Luke.  This is a big deal.  Are you going to the premiere?”

“No, absolutely not.”  He shakes his head and runs his hand through his hair.

“Why?  You should go.  You’re a part of it.”

“No.”  He swallows hard.  “I don’t do that anymore.”

“Either way, you should have told me.  You never talk to me about your work, and you know all about mine.”  This is something that’s been bothering me, and I’m glad Jules brought it up.

“What does a producer do, anyway?” Jules asks as she drains the pasta and starts layering lasagna in a glass dish.

“It depends on the producer.  There are a lot of different roles.  Some are on set during the entire production and run things there.  Some work behind the scenes, securing money from a studio or wooing actors and directors.  There are a lot of things to do, and there are usually a few producers doing different jobs.”

“Okay, so what do you do, specifically?” I ask, sincerely interested.

“I’ve been doing the behind-the-scenes, preproduction stuff so I can work from here.  Sometimes I have to make a trip to LA or New York for a brief meeting, but that’s rare these days.  Pretty much everything can be done on the phone or by e-mail.  So, I talk to actors and directors, and sometimes sit in on conference calls to get money secured for a project.”  He’s talking with his hands, so animated and enthusiastic, and it occurs to me that he really loves what he does.  I smile at him and kiss his cheek.

“I’m proud of you.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re doing something you love, and you’re good at it.”

“How do you know?”

“I wouldn’t be with someone who sucks.”  I respond sassily, and he laughs.

“So, how much money did you have to secure for the movie coming out on Friday?  And who’s in it anyway?”  Jules slips the lasagna in the oven and leans across the counter, listening attentively.

“It’s called
Rough Shot
with Channing Tatum.  It’s an action movie, lots of stunts and stuff blowing up, so it was high-budget.  About a hundred million.”

Jules and I look at each other and then back at Luke.

“I’m sorry, did you say a hundred million dollars?”  My voice is very shrill.  It’s disturbing.  Almost as disturbing as my boyfriend being responsible for raising a hundred million dollars.

“Yeah.”  He smiles shyly.  “The action/adventure movies are always high-budget, because there’s a lot of cinematography involved, CGI, and a lot of other stuff that I don’t really understand but know it’s expensive.”

I swallow.  Wow.

“So, this is a big-box-office movie then.”

“Yeah, it’s expected to bring in about a hundred and fifty million this weekend.”  He shrugs again, but I see the pride in his eyes.

“So, here’s where I get personal, and you can tell me to mind my own fucking business, but I’m curious because money is what I do for a living.”  Jules’ eyes are gleaming with curiosity, and I know exactly what she’s going to ask.

“Okay, go ahead.”  Luke smirks.  He knows, too.

“Well, I know how much actors usually get paid for big-budget films, but what about producers?”

“When all is said and done, after royalties and stuff, I’ll probably bank about fifteen from this movie.”

I narrow my eyes at him and bite my lip, not sure that I understand the words that just came out of his mouth.  I look at Jules, and her mouth is opening and closing, also with no sound coming out.

Luke isn’t looking at either of us.  He’s staring down at his wine.

Finally, Jules speaks first.  “Please tell me you have a damn good entertainment lawyer and a team of entertainment accountants with excellent reputations.  Because if you don’t, I know some.”  She’s completely serious.

Luke nods his head.  “Yeah, that’s all been covered for years.”

“Good,” she responds.

I just don’t know what to say.  I knew he was wealthy, but I had no idea. 

Finally, Luke looks over at me.  “Are you okay?”

“Fine,” I whisper.

“You look a little pale.”  He looks worried.

“I’m okay.”  I shake myself out of my stare and look to Jules for guidance. 

“Nat,” she says, “you’re no stranger to money.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Your parents left you, like, twenty million.”

Luke blanches. 

“I know.”

“So, what’s wrong?” she asks quietly.

I frown.  “Well, I guess it’s just a lot to take in.”  I look at Luke and finally, needing to touch him, grip his hand in mine.  “I’m sorry, honey.  The money isn’t that big of a deal to me, you know that.  I guess it’s just surprising to hear that my man deals with actors and hundred-million-dollar movies and is friends with Steven Spielberg.  It’s easy to forget because we’re so far removed from that life.”

“Nat, I’ve removed myself on purpose.”

“I know.”

“Don’t freak out on me,” he whispers.

“I am not freaking out on you.”  I smile, finding my equilibrium. 

“Um, can I ask one more question?” Jules raises her hand like we’re in class, and we laugh.

“Okay.”

“Can I have Channing Tatum’s number?”

We all bust out in a laughing fit, and I’m relieved to have the tension lifted.

“He’s married, Jules.”

“Damn it.”  She frowns.  “All the good ones are taken.”

“Luke”—I jump off my stool and stand between his thighs, rubbing my hands up and down his arms—“I want to see your movie this weekend.”

“You do?”  He looks completely shocked.

“Yes.  This is what you do.  I want to support you.  Let’s go opening night.”

“I told you, I don’t do premieres.  I’m not going to LA for it.”  He’s shaking his head adamantly.

“No, I mean here.  Let’s go to opening night here, in Seattle.”

Jules jumps up and down in excitement.  “I want to go, too!  I’m sure I can find a date.”

“Let’s make a night of it.  We’ll double-date, go to the movie, maybe dinner.  Let’s celebrate!”

Luke smiles, a wide, melt-my-panties smile, and for the first time since I met him, he looks genuinely proud and excited about what he does.  “You really want to?”

“Absolutely.”

“Then I guess we’re going.  But let’s try to go to an out-of-the-way theater.  I don’t want our night to be ruined because I get recognized and have to stand around signing shit for three hours.”

“We’ll go to a late show in a suburb after dinner.  You can wear a trench coat with a hat and sunglasses.”  I smirk at him, and he narrows his eyes at me.

“You’re such a smart-ass.”

“But you love me.”  I smile sweetly.

“God, get a room.”  Jules pulls the lasagna out of the oven.

***

“I’m nervous.”  I look over at Jules and cringe.  “What if I don’t like it?”

“Then you lie through your pretty straight teeth and tell him you love it.  That’s what girlfriends do, no matter what their boyfriends do for a living.”  She shuffles through my closet, looking for something to wear to the movie tonight.

“Who are you bringing tonight?” I ask as I pull my black dress over my head and step into my black Manolo Blahniks. 

“Don’t lecture me.” 

“Uh, okay.”

“I’m bringing my boss.”

“Holy shit!  I didn’t think you were seeing him anymore.”  What the hell? 

“We’re not really seeing each other.”

“Are you sleeping together?” 

“No.  Definitely not.  He’s not as bad as I thought he was.  Once the embarrassment faded…well, he’s a pretty nice guy.  I figured, why not bring him?”  She bites her lip and slips on a pair of my silver earrings.

“I hope you know what you’re doing, Jules.”

“I’m not sure that I do, but it’s just one night.  Please, be cool, okay?”

“I am the epitome of cool.  I’m offended you’d say otherwise.  And here I was going to spring for dinner tonight, too.” 

She smiles at me as the doorbell rings.

“One of our guys is here.” I head for the door, ready to go.  “I’ll get it.”

I jog down the stairs and open the door to find a huge bouquet of red roses staring me in the face.

“Well, hello.”

Luke pokes his head out from behind them and smiles at me.  “Hey, gorgeous, these are for you.”

“Thank you, my love.”  I bury my nose in them and sniff as he comes inside and closes the door behind him.  He looks fantastic in a blue button-down shirt that matches his eyes and a pair of khaki pants.

“You look handsome,” I murmur and kiss his lips softly.

“You are breathtaking.”  He runs his fingertips down my face, and I blush.

“Come on, I’ll put these in water, and then I get to go see my boyfriend’s movie tonight.”

Luke laughs.  “You do?  That’s cool.”

“I know.  He’s very famous, but I can’t tell you who he is because we are private people.”  I nod sagely at him, my eyes wide.

“Are you sure I can’t get it out of you?”  He wraps his arms around my middle as I arrange the flowers in a vase.

“Nope, my lips are sealed.”

“Damn, and here I was hoping to get to take you out tonight.”  He nuzzles my neck, and I sigh.

“Well, I could probably go out with you later, after my other date.”

Luke tickles my ribs, and I squeal.  “Like hell.  You’re mine, baby.  Get used to it.”

I turn in his arms and run my hands through his hair, smiling up at him.  “You are the only one I’ll ever want, my love.”

His eyes soften, and he gives me that kiss that makes me all gooey.  “Ditto, baby.”

“Oh my God, do you two ever stop?”  Jules rolls her eyes as she comes in the room, and Luke smiles smugly and kisses my cheek.

“Nope.”

“Gag.  Nate just texted, he’ll be here in a few—”